Bitter pill: Scientists to trial fat fighting ‘poo tablets’

The future of obesity prevention could lie in human waste, though the results may be hard to swallow.

US scientists are to carry out controlled clinical trials using freeze-dried poo pills to transform stomach bacteria, potentially altering the way certain people store fat. Yes, you read that correctly.

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital say the unusual new tests will involve taking fecal samples from lean, healthy donors before freeze drying the stool and putting about 2 grams of the stuff into capsules.

The pills will then be given to 20 obese human ‘guinea pigs’ in a bid to replace their intestinal microbes with those of a leaner donor.

The treatment has proven effective in animal studies and there is anecdotal data of success with human patients, reports Ars Technica.